Print

Savory Carne Con Chile Colorado Recipe

Savory Carne Con Chile Colorado Recipe

4.9 from 17 reviews

Savory Carne Con Chile Colorado is a flavorful Mexican stew featuring tender pork cubes simmered in a rich, smoky chile colorado sauce made from dried chiles, onions, garlic, and traditional spices. This hearty dish pairs perfectly with warm tortillas, beans, or rice for a comforting meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat

  • 1 lb Lean Pork Loin or Beef Stew Meat, trimmed and cut into ½ inch cubes

Chile Sauce

  • 3 pieces Chiles Colorados or Chiles Guajillos (for smoky flavor and red color)
  • 1 medium White Onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves Garlic, peeled
  • 1 tsp Dried Oregano (preferably Mexican)
  • 1 tsp Dried Cumin
  • 1 tsp Kosher Salt
  • ½ tsp Fresh Ground Black Pepper
  • 2 cups Water (for sauce and boiling chiles)

Other

  • 2 tbsp All-purpose Flour (for dusting meat)
  • 2 tbsp Cooking Oil (vegetable or canola for browning meat)

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Trim any excess fat from the pork loin or beef and cut into ½ inch cubes. Season the meat generously with kosher salt and sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper.
  2. Brown the Meat: In a large heavy pot, heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil over medium-high heat. Lightly dust the seasoned meat with all-purpose flour, then add to the pot. Brown the cubes on all sides for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Add a splash of water if needed to deglaze the pot.
  3. Prepare the Chile Sauce: Remove the seeds from the dried chiles colorados or guajillos. In a separate pot, boil the chiles, chopped onion, and garlic cloves in about 2 cups of water for 10 minutes or until softened. Transfer the softened mixture to a blender, add cumin and oregano, and blend until smooth, adding some cooking liquid to help blend.
  4. Strain the Sauce: Pour the blended chile sauce through a fine mesh strainer or sieve over the browned meat to remove any solids, ensuring a smooth sauce.
  5. Simmer the Stew: Stir the meat and sauce well, cover the pot, and reduce heat to low. Let it simmer gently for 20-30 minutes or until the meat is tender and infused with the rich smoky flavors of the chile colorado sauce.
  6. Serve: Serve the Carne Con Chile Colorado hot alongside warm corn or flour tortillas, refried beans, and a side of rice for a complete, hearty meal.

Notes

  • Adjust the number of chiles to control the heat level—use fewer for milder flavor.
  • Using pork loin keeps the dish lean, but beef stew meat is a great alternative for richer flavor.
  • For a gluten-free version, omit the flour or substitute with a gluten-free thickener.
  • Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
  • Serve with fresh cilantro, lime wedges, and diced onions for added freshness.

Nutrition

Keywords: Carne Con Chile Colorado, Mexican pork stew, chile colorado recipe, smoky pork stew, traditional Mexican meat dish